South Bend Police Department Press Release

Monday, November 20, 2006

Police Involved Shooting; 1900 S. Vernon St.

-Police were dispatched to the 1400 Block of E. Bowman St. at 3:44pm. on this date in reference to a domestic disturbance that was occurring in the street between two persons. Officers arrived and found no active disturbance in progress. They were given an address in the 1900 Block of S. Vernon Street where is was stated one of the combatants may be located.

At 3:52pm., an officer called the South Bend Police Department dispatch center via his radio and advised that he would be out at 1915 S. Vernon St., on a follow-up to the earlier disturbance call on Bowman Street. Within approximately one minute, the officer made contact with the communications center and reported that he was being assaulted, moments later the officer advised via his radio that there had been shots fired and a subject injured. Back-up police units and South Bend Fire Department medics were immediately dispatched.

When additional back-up units and medics arrived, they found the original officer injured and a male subject shot in the chest. The officer and the party with the gunshot wound were transported to local hospitals. The individual with the gunshot wound has since died. The officer is being treated for non life-threatening injuries. At this time it appears that the officer fired the shot(s).

The St. Joseph County Metro Homicide Unit (MHU) is currently investigating this case as it does with all police involved shootings, regardless of whether a death occurs. The investigation is ongoing and witnesses are being interviewed at this time.

Wednesday, November 08, 2006

Serious Injury Accident w/ Updated Information

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On today’s date, at 11:40am., the South Bend Police Department emergency communications center received a call of an accident in the 2100 block of South Kendall St. (Kendall and Donald Sts.), on the city’s south-west side. Police and EMS personnel arrived to find a 15 (fifteen) year-old male subject who stated that he had been struck by a vehicle, which then left the scene.

The young man, who lives nearby the location of occurrence, was transported to a local hospital for treatment. It has since been determined that the male subject is suffering from serious life-threatening injuries, which include a lacerated liver and crush injuries to the chest. He is currently being airlifted to Riley Hospital in Indianapolis for emergency surgery.

The South Bend Police Department and the St. Joseph County Fatal Alcohol Crash Team (FACT) are investigating this hit and run incident. Any individual with information regarding the suspect or vehicle used in this crime is asked to call the South Bend Police Department, Sgt. Eugene Eyster at 574-235-9263, or Crime Stoppers at 288-STOP.____

UPDATE.... 11-08-2006; 17:20 hrs.

Here is the updated information on this case:

The victim in this case is 16 years old, rather than 15.

The case is most likely NOT a hit-and-run, but an accident, triggered by the actions of the victim himself. Preliminarily, it is believed that the victim in this case was doing mechanical work underneath a 1985 Cadillac Coupe DeVille that was in his possession, when some action of the victim caused the vehicle to travel, dragging him.